Page 52 of Promised to the Cowboy

His hand stills against my back. “And now?”

I swallow. “Now I don’t know how I’d do this without you.”

His forehead rests against mine. “Good. Because I don’t want to do it without you either.”

My heart feels full in a way it never has before—so full that I don’t think it could hold another thing.

Then, completely beyond my control, a huge yawn escapes me.

I clamp my lips shut a fraction too late.

Gabriel raises a dark eyebrow at me.

“What? I’m twenty-two weeks pregnant,” I mutter. “I’m growing a whole person here.”

A laugh rumbles out of him, low and warm, and I think it might be my favorite sound in the world.

“I pour my heart out,” he says, smiling now, “and you decide it’s bedtime.”

I bury my face against his chest, stifling another yawn. “Not my fault you wore me out.”

That earns me another huff of laughter, and he presses a kiss into my hair. “Go to sleep, darlin’.”

“What about you?” I mumble, my eyelids already drooping.

His arms tighten around me. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

Chapter 14

Gabriel

I wake to a warm, sweet body sprawled across me. I slide my hand down Evie’s spine to cup her rounded ass, relishing in the utter domesticity of waking up in bed with her.

My woman.Limp and sated, draped across me like she’s claiming every inch. The swell of our child presses against my stomach, making me stupidly happy. If the little imp is anything like her mama, I’m in for a hell of a ride.

She stirs as I caress her rounded ass, murmuring something against my neck before burrowing closer.

“What was that?” I ask against her ear.

“Shower,” she mumbles. “I need one. But God, I don’t want to get up.”

“Then don’t.” I tighten my arms around her, perfectly content to stay right here, lazily trailing my fingers along the cleft of her ass. Goosebumps rise on her skin; I soothe them away with my palm. For a long moment, she lies there, and the only sound is her soft breathing against my neck.

Eventually, she pushes up on one elbow, blonde-streaked hair spilling over my chest. She leans down and kisses me—hot, open-mouthed, hungry. When she pulls back, her pupils are blown wide.

I roll us and settle over her on my elbows, careful not to put pressure on her belly. My cock aches fiercely. When she squirms, the tip slides through her swollen, slick folds. I groan and push forward, sinking into tight, liquid heat.

Evie gasps, arching her hips to take me.

“Oh, fuck,” I whisper. “This is gonna be quick.”

I try to be gentle—needto be gentle with her pregnant and still half-asleep—but her cunt grips me like a fist. Her nails rake down my back and dig in hard. The sting unleashes an emotion I can’t rein in. I thrust deeper, rocking into her as she opens her legs wider.

“You’re the only one,” she says, eyes locked on mine. “Ever.”

Everything in me stops.

I look deep into her eyes and feel her words land.